How much does a cat weigh. Average cat weight - how much should an adult cat weigh

Regular examination of the pet and assessment of its weight will allow timely detection of signs of disease and signs of malnutrition or obesity.

How to determine the normal weight of a cat

You can assess the condition of the pet visually by looking at the animal from different angles. Thus, the assessment of the condition when looking in profile will allow you to assess the condition of the abdomen, limbs, and the view from above - to determine the waist and evaluate the lumbar region.

For a more accurate assessment, it will not be superfluous to feel the body of the pet. Run your hands over the ribs without pressing too hard. If the bones stick out with a slight touch, then - exhaustion, but if for probing it is necessary to make efforts and press - obesity.

Then you can move on to the waist. This area is sensitive, so handle your pet carefully. Running your palms along the waist to the pelvis, you can feel the shape of almost an hourglass. In obese cats, the waist is not palpable.

You should pay attention to the stomach. A little softness on the abdomen is quite normal. But if the abdominal fold hangs down and sways in different directions when the cat moves, then this is a sign of obesity.

Flaw

Very thin hairless and short-haired individuals with low weight show ribs, very pronounced pelvic bones and spine with minimal muscle mass, with minimal or no fat. The ribs are easily palpable. The abdomen is strongly tucked up. The neck is thin. In such a situation, the help of a veterinarian is necessary, perhaps the animal has health problems, for example, helminthic invasion.

In thin individuals, the ribs are easily felt, muscle mass and a layer of fat is minimal. The vertebrae are clearly visible, the waist is visible. Weakly expressed abdominal fold with minimal fat.

Ideal

At ideal weight, cats have a well-built body with a noticeable waist after the ribs. The waist is clearly visible when viewed from above (the shape of the torso resembles the shape of an hourglass). The ribs can be palpated, but the fat layer is minimal. When viewed from the side, the abdomen is tucked up. But breed characteristics should be taken into account. Indeed, representatives of some breeds are more gracefully and refined, while others are naturally stocky and heavy, in such animals the presence of an abdominal fold can be considered normal in accordance with the Standard.

Excess

In slightly overweight pets, ribs covered with a small amount of fat may be felt. The waist is hardly noticeable. At a more advanced stage of obesity, the waist is indistinguishable, the ribs are hidden under a layer of fat and are not palpable, the abdomen is rounded, there is a clear presence of adipose tissue in the abdominal region. Fat deposits are present on the muzzle and on the limbs, lower back, and even on the tail. With obesity, the help of a veterinarian is needed, who will give recommendations on proper nutrition and exercise regimen that contribute to weight loss. With self-control, you should act gradually, you should not allow a sharp weight loss. Changes are made to the diet, namely, reducing the calorie content of food or selecting the appropriate dry food for cats suffering from or predisposed to obesity.

Being overweight can lead to a number of health problems, so it's important to control your pet's diet and avoid overeating. Of course, you can pamper your pet, but within reason, because what could be more important than the health of a cat, whose life expectancy is already short.

Returning to the problem of obesity, we should mention the possible problems that it leads to: diabetes mellitus, heart disease, liver dysfunction, joint disease.

How to keep your cat at a normal weight

Before you start fattening your pet or reducing the daily intake and calorie content of food, you need to take into account the characteristics of the breed. The ideal weight of a cat depends on age, sex and breed. Male Maine Coon, British Shorthair, Ragamuffin, Chartreuse can weigh 9-12 kg and have no signs of obesity, while males of the Japanese Bobtail, Cornish Rex, Peterbald breed can weigh 3-5.5 kg. Moreover, females are noticeably smaller than males and they weigh an average of 2-3 kg less.

Normal weight table for cats

This table of cat weight is not a guide to determining the exact ideal body weight of an adult, it is only informational material that allows you to find out the approximate limits of the normal weight of a particular breed. After all, the body weight of a particular animal depends on the age, gender, health and individual characteristics of the pet.

A special role in the life of a cat is occupied by a period of active growth, when the animal is gaining weight. It falls on the first six months of a pet's life. Therefore, it is important to know what the weight of a kitten should be by months. For these purposes, there is a special table. It will help to track this indicator throughout the entire period of growth of the animal and correct the shortfall or overshoot in time.

Determining the weight of a pet kitten is a great way to assess its growth and development. If the mass is gaining slowly, this indicates health problems. Also, problems with well-being can be in a nursing cat. The second reason for a poor set is a lack of nutrients (for example, many cubs were born in the litter).

Kittens are characterized by rapid growth, since in natural conditions they leave their mother at the age of 12-16 weeks. Therefore, at the beginning of their life, they should eat a balanced and high-calorie meal. Every week, the cub should gain 50-100 g. If the animal is gaining less, it must be taken to the veterinarian. But there are times when a pet has a temporary stabilization of this indicator. Then the set resumes and goes at an accelerated pace.

For each breed of cats, there is a special table that indicates the normal weight of the animal, depending on its age. This is important to know, since the norm is directly dependent on two indicators - age and breed.

Therefore, you can find out how much a kitten of a particular breed should weigh without any problems. Do not forget that this indicator is seriously affected by a complete, balanced and rational diet.

In the first days after birth

Newly born babies have a mass of about 70-130 g. In the first days of life, the cubs practically do not move and do not see anything. At this time, their main task is to eat, sleep and grow. As a result of this regimen, they should gain 10-15 g per day.

Up to a month

In the first 3-6 days, babies weigh in the range of 85-200 g. By the end of the first week of life, this figure is 140-285 g. At this time, the eyes begin to open in animals, a reaction to extraneous smells and sounds appears, they become more active.

Therefore, kittens in the first month of their lives need a full-fledged enhanced nutrition. For this, there is an expansion of the diet. Dairy products are added to it. Gradually, the transition of animals from milk feeding to self-feeding with dry food or natural food is being carried out. Their weight during this period is about 500-700 g.

Up to three months

An animal at the age of 2 months already behaves like an adult. At this time, the mother is less and less likely to feed the babies with milk, since the body of the kittens is already quite ready for self-feeding. Therefore, the second month is a great time to transfer the pet to a new owner. By this age, the weight of kittens is 1-1.4 kg.

After 4 weeks, animals should eat at least 5 times a day. Every time the pets are given a fresh portion of food. During this period, it is already necessary to decide what exactly the animal will eat: dry food or natural products. Three-month-old kittens weigh about 1.7-2.3 kg.

A detailed graph of weight gain in domestic cats and cats is as follows:

• newborn babies: females - 116-145, males - 118-147 g;
• 1 week: 240-260, 240-280 g;
• 2 weeks: 340-400, 350-420 g;
• 4 weeks: 560-740, 630-820 g;
• 6-8 weeks: 1.15-1.4, 1.2-1.5 kg;
• 10-12 weeks: 1.7-2.3, 1.8-2.3 kg;
• 14-16 weeks: 2.6-3.6, 2.7-3.8 kg;
• 5 months: 2.9-4.3, 3.2-5.5 kg;
• 6 months: 3.2-4.5, 3.9-6 kg;
• 7 months: 3.5-4.9, 4.2-6.5 kg;
• 8 months: 3.8-5.2, 4.5-6.9 kg;
• 9 months: 4.1-5.5, 5-7 kg;
• 10 months: 4.2-5.8, 5.3-7.7 kg;
• 11 months: 4.3-6.1, 5.6-8 kg;
• 1 year: 4.5-6.8, 5.7-9 kg.

After 1 year, the mass of animals directly depends on the breed and nutrition.

Gain Control

You need to control the increase in a kitten every month. First, a kitchen scale is used. When the animal becomes larger, it is weighed on floor scales.

The monthly set should be 100-150 g.

The body weight of the pet must be checked against the table calculated for a particular breed. The measurements taken are recorded in a special diary.

Do not forget that sterilized animals are always heavier. Their metabolism changes, so their normal weight is several kilograms more than average.

If the cat does not want to stand on the floor scales, then you can put it in a bag and weigh it with a crane scale or stand with it on the floor scales, and then subtract your weight from the resulting figure. Kittens from birth to 4 weeks grow very fast, adding an average of 15-20 g per day. Up to 6 months there is an active weight gain, from 6 months to a year - the formation of body architecture depending on gender. At the age of 1 year, growth almost completely stops, and the kitten begins to be considered an adult.

British breed cats gain their final weight at the age of 3 years. Monochromatic Britons are larger than spotted ones - for example, a classic blue Briton is heavier than a chocolate-spotted one. Among other things, the physical condition is influenced by lifestyle and gender. After all, pets that are let out on the street burn more calories, so they are slimmer than domestic ones. Do not forget that cats are always more massive than cats, which means that their mass is greater.

Rumors that adult Maine Coons can reach 20 and even 25 kg are unfounded. At the moment, no such cat has been recorded. In fact, their mass rarely exceeds 10 kg. And the average weight of a Maine Coon cat sometimes reaches 8 kg. Maine Coons look very massive due to their fluffy coat, large head and heavy paws.

Do not forget that cats, like people, are individual in themselves, and their performance varies depending on their own characteristics. Therefore, if a deviation from generally accepted standards is detected, you do not need to immediately panic and fatten the cat, or even put him on a diet. First, it is better to visit a veterinarian who will tell you if the pet is normal. If necessary, he will recommend suitable food for the cat.

But it is better not to allow either underweight or obesity. With obesity, a pet develops such serious abnormalities as cardiovascular disease, pancreatitis, kidney disease, liver disease, arthritis, and the life expectancy of the animal is reduced by a third.

In this article, I will look at the topic of how much healthy kittens and adult cats of the most popular breeds should weigh. The article will discuss, Persian, and yard breeds of cats. I’ll tell you what to feed your pet so as not to provoke obesity and how to help the animal lead a healthy and active lifestyle.

How much should a cat weigh depending on age and breed

With age, pets that have undergone castration and sterilization gain weight in a short period of time. An obese animal is less active, less playful, has difficulty with normal feline activities like jumping on windowsills, and health problems.

Overweight is a frequent companion of joint diseases, heart problems, shortness of breath and other ailments.

It is impossible to determine the norm of the mass of an animal only by the figure when weighing, because cats, depending on the breed and according to age, weigh differently. The tables below reflect the weight of a medium-sized cat.

Table of the optimal weight of kittens up to a month:

Weight table for adults 1 year and older:

How to determine if a cat's weight is normal

• With a lack of mass in an individual, the pelvic bones, ribs and sternocostal joints protrude strongly, and the fat layer on the chest is not palpable.
• Bottom line means a well-defined waist, little fat on the chest and abdomen, protruding sternocostal joints and pelvic bones.
• At normal weight the cat is visible to her healthy proportions. The pelvic bones and sternocostal joints are not visible, but they can be felt. The waist is well defined, there is a small amount of fat on the abdomen and chest.
• For overweight and obesity a protruding belly is visible, and the complete absence of a waist, and the spine and ribs are not palpable at all.

If you notice your cat gaining weight, contact your veterinarian for an examination or prevention of heart and joint disease. It is also important to choose a diet for your pet in order to return weight to normal.

Please note that overweight cats should not be neutered or neutered. Weight may increase quite a bit, but should remain within the normal range for the breed.

Such pets require a special approach to their diet. Too high-calorie foods should be excluded from their diet. Peas, eggs, nuts, liver, processed cheese, seafood and tomatoes are not recommended for consumption.

How to maintain normal weight

The cat's diet should include fish or meat and rice, wheat, oatmeal boiled in water. Boiled pumpkin, cauliflower, broccoli and beets also need to be eaten by the cat on an ongoing basis.

Your pet may want to avoid eating grains and vegetables. In this case, when cooking rice, oatmeal and wheat, you can add a small amount of milk to the water, and mix the vegetables with the meat so that the animal cannot separate them.

The process of losing weight in an obese cat should be smooth, you can’t seriously injure your pet by depriving him of food.

To reduce the weight of the animal, you need to reduce the daily portion of food, exclude high-calorie and fatty foods, and focus on a healthy diet.

Get regular checkups with your veterinarian. An increased amount of proteins, fats and vitamins is the key to a healthy weight and well-being of a cat. Showing love for an animal through health care will give your pet a happy long life.

The weight of a kitten, like an adult cat, may also depend on the breed. The average weight of a newborn baby is 90 grams. However, this figure can vary from 80 to 140 grams, in contrast to many factors, such as the number of kittens in the litter and the date of delivery of the mother cat. Also, the weight of newborn kittens varies in different breeds. Maine Coon babies, for example, are exceptionally large - at birth they weigh 130-150 grams.

Kitten at 1 month old

In the first month of a kitten's life, he grows the fastest: an increase in his body weight per day can reach up to 15 grams. Turning from a helpless and blind squeaky lump into a curious and active shustryak, kittens grow up to 500-450 grams in a month.

Kitten at 2 months

At 2 months, the kitten begins to eat not only mother's milk, but also food, and also drink water. At the same time, weight gain may slow down as the baby becomes more active. By the end of the second month, his weight is 1000-1500 grams.

Kitten at 3 months

The baby is actively growing, his body already constantly needs solid food. In the same period, males begin to differ from females in weight: the former become larger. The weight of a kitten during this period is 1500-2300 grams.

Kitten at 5 months

Your pet is switching to four meals a day and is still gaining weight. Depending on gender and breed, a kitten can weigh from 2000 to 4200 grams.

Kitten at 6 months old

Most cat breeds generally reach their "adult" weight by half a year or greatly slow down their growth. The grown up animals eat 3 times a day and weigh from 2000 to 4800 grams depending on the breed. In the future, the cats will build up and strengthen muscle mass, while the cats will remain more elegant.

Why should a kitten be weighed?

If a kitten or cat looks healthy and eats well, has not lost weight and has not recovered sharply, in principle there is no need to know their weight. However, there are a few cases where this may be necessary.

• To calculate the daily feed intake

For example, if a grown kitten fell into your hands, and you do not know exactly its age, you can, by weighing it, approximately determine the age and calculate how much food it needs. It can also come in handy if there are several pets in the house, and you assume that the kitten does not get food - maybe someone eats his share. How to determine the diet of a kitten at different ages, you can learn from this.

• To calculate the dose of drugs

Very often, for medicines, including simple anthelmintics, which it is desirable to give a cat 4 times a year, you need to know its weight - in order to calculate the dose. The dose is indicated per kilogram.

• For air travel

This item applies primarily to adults and large cats. Many airlines place restrictions on pets in the cabin. For example, an animal with a carrier must not weigh more than 8 kilograms. Otherwise, the pet must travel in the cargo hold, which, of course, can be a huge stress for her. So it's better to decide on the ground what awaits the furry traveler.

How to weigh a kitten at home

While the kitten is a newborn, it is better not to touch it once again and weigh it, unless there are serious reasons for this, for example, a veterinarian's prescription if the kitten is sick and does not eat. When the baby gets older, a kitchen scale is best for weighing. If the kitten is already too nimble and does not want to sit on them, you can put it in a bag and weigh it with a steelyard. But the most popular way is to weigh the cat with a bathroom scale. This is done as follows: first stand on the scales yourself and fix the readings, then pick up the cat and stand on the scales again, fix the readings. Next, subtract your weight with the cat from your weight without the cat.